SB 117-72: Air is a Commodity Act - Failed

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Air is a Commodity

Section I: Title

This legislation shall be known as the "Air is a Commodity Act."

Section II: Findings

The Senate of the Republic of Atlasia makes the following findings:

(1) The airspace above the Republic of Atlasia is a limited and valuable resource, intrinsic to the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.

(2) Excessive use of airspace, especially by commercial airlines, drones, and other flying entities, poses environmental challenges due to increased emissions and other ecological disturbances.

(3) Unregulated and unchecked use of airspace may lead to it becoming a cheaper and more accessible medium of travel than ground-based transportation, thereby further exacerbating environmental concerns.

(4) It is in the interest of environmental sustainability, balanced economic development, and national security to regulate and monitor the use of Atlasia's airspace.

Section III: Airspace Use Tax

1. An "Airspace Use Tax" is hereby introduced, applicable to commercial airlines, drones, and other flying entities operating within the airspace of the Republic of Atlasia.

2. The rate of tax shall be determined
a. The type and size of the aircraft, drone and other flying entity.
b. The altitude and duration of flight within Atlasia's airspace.
c. The environmental footprint of the aircraft, with higher taxes for entities with greater emissions.

3. A standard tax rate of 5% of the operational cost shall be applied to commercial airliners and cargo planes

4. A flat annual fee of $100, plus an additional charge of $5 per hour shall be levied on drones for commercial use.

Section IV: Penalties

1. Entities deliberately not reporting flights or misreporting flight details to avoid tax payments shall be violated with a fine double that of the evaded tax amounts as well as the evaded tax amount on top of it.

2. Entities wrongly classifying the aircraft type on purpose to avoid tax payments shall be violated with a fine double that of the evaded tax amounts as well as the evaded tax amount on top of it.

3. Entities deliberately falsifying aircraft's emissions or fuel efficiency levels to avoid tax payments shall be violated with a fine double that of the evaded tax amounts as well as the evaded tax amount on top of it.

4. Failure to pay the tax amount shall result in an interest rate of 1% each week on the owed amount, calculated from the due date until the date of payment.

5. Aircrafts taking unapproved or restricted routes in an attempt to avoid detection and subsequently, taxation and entities operating aircraft in Atlasia's airspace without the necessary permits or licenses shall additionally be subject to a $50.000 and an imprisonment of no less than five years.

Section V: Enforcement

1. Air traffic control centers shall be equipped with advanced radar and surveillance systems to monitor all aircraft within the Republic of Atlasia's airspace. A budget of $500 million will be made available for the estimated cost.

2. Entities shall be required to report flight details, emissions data, and other relevant information to the FAA and EPA.

3. The FAA shall establish the AUTFD, responsible for auditing entities to verify the accuracy of reported data related to flight details and emissions for the purpose of the Airspace Use Tax.
This division shall coordinate with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for emissions verification and with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for financial accuracy.

4. An automated billing system will be integrated into the digital platform of the FAA to issue invoices based on reported flight data.

Section VI: Enactment

This act shall take effect on 1 january 2024 to give authorities and entities the time to prepare for the upcoming changes.

Sponsor: Laki
Occupying: Slot 19

[fhtagn]

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Not sure which of the checkers this is, but at least according to https://gptzero.me/, your party's Stand With Israel Act is nearly 90% likely to be AI. So not sure you're making any worthwhile statement here.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

[fhtagn]

The Israel bill is based on Dkrol's Uganda bill, and a simple reading of both bills will show that.

But at least Laki admits this is another one of his useless spam bills.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

The Israel bill is based on Dkrol's Uganda bill, and a simple reading of both bills will show that.

But at least Laki admits this is another one of his useless spam bills.

Explain this than...

[Joseph Cao]

I would suggest that the esteemed Senators get a room but that would likely impede debate.

When the esteemed Senators have concluded their lovefest, I'd also like to hear advocacy for this before proceeding with my questions.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

I believe this tax could be helpful in funding the construction of the new capital, in particular because we've had some criticism on the cost of it.

The idea of an airspace use tax is basically one I believe that would be environmentally beneficial, would reduce the distance between public transport being a viable way of transporting yourself vs using air (with the latter one being more polluting), in particular for shorter plane travels, where taking the plane isn't really necessary. The concept is basically similar to a carbon tax but in this case, we specifically talk about an airspace use tax, something we - the republic of atlasia - have "ownership" off and something we must protect/safeguard as well, including environmental controls.

[fhtagn]

So it's a tax on airplane travel to promote non-existent trains. All this does is price out the poor from being able to travel long distances.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

So it's a tax on airplane travel to promote non-existent trains. All this does is price out the poor from being able to travel long distances.

Nonsense

applicable to commercial airlines, drones, and other flying entities

No people are taxed here, unless you would argue that we are a flying entity but last time i checked, we didn't develop wings.

And if we don't have trains, whose side is responsible for that? Your side recently rejected the RAILS act.

[Joseph Cao]

None of the tax in this bill, as written, is on the taxpayer. That does not stop airlines from passing down the tax burden to their consumer base if they possibly can.

We do actually have a number of regional rail projects close to or finished with construction so, like, this bill could be tried out in Frémont or whatever and there'd be an argument for it, but it's a bad idea to jump straight to the federal level and impose a burden on the long distances everyone has to travel just to get across this country.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

motion for a final vote

[Joseph Cao]

Unsure if Laki has read this? I'd like to hear his thoughts.

We do actually have a number of regional rail projects close to or finished with construction so, like, this bill could be tried out in Frémont or whatever and there'd be an argument for it, but it's a bad idea to jump straight to the federal level and impose a burden on the long distances everyone has to travel just to get across this country.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

A final vote is beginning.

Aye

[Dr. MB]

Nay

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Aye

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

Nay

[Vice President Christian Man]

Aye

[nerd73]

Abstain. Cao makes good points and I don't like this being rushed to a vote.

[RFayette]

Nay

[reagente]

Nay

[fhtagn]

Nay

[Coastal Elitist]

Nay

[ChiefFireWaterMike]

Nay

[DKrol]

Nay